Directed by Clint Bentley, 2025, United States, Rated PG-13, 100 minutes

Based on Denis Johnson’s acclaimed novella, Train Dreams follows Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a solitary laborer in the early 20th-century American West whose quiet life unfolds against sweeping natural landscapes and personal tragedy. Through episodic moments of love, loss, and survival, the film becomes a poetic meditation on isolation and the passage of time. Premiering at Sundance to strong acclaim, the film was recognized for its cinematography and Edgerton’s understated performance. Critics noted its lyrical restraint, with one review describing it as “a beautifully observed elegy for a disappearing way of life,” capturing both the grandeur and loneliness of the American frontier. 2026 Oscar nominee for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Song.

Munson Film Series is sponsored by M&T Bank and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.